Africa’s newest country, only an hour old as I write this, is South Sudan (July 9, 2011, 0:00, Juba, South Sudan) It has been a poor, much exploited region and will start out as a desperately poor country, but with independence they will have better control over their own resources and have a better chance. Inshallah!

With Uranus very close to the Aries Ascendant, opposing Saturn in Libra in the 7th house they will struggle to establish their independence. There are still questions of unsettled borders crossing important oil fields, and Sudan does not play nice. Also in the first house Eris is opposing the Moon highlighting tribal factionalism, a common problem in Africa, one they are not likely to escape.

Pluto in Capricorn in the 10th suggests that South Sudan will gravitate towards strong, likely even coercive and dictatorial leaders, and Pluto opposes Venus in Cancer in the 4th, trine and sextile to Jupiter in Taurus in the 2nd. The natural wealth of the land will be put to use, but Jupiter also opposes the Moon which is in a wide trine to Venus. I think the people will see some improvement in their lives, but not as much as they should. A few people, however, will get very, very rich. For all that A grand trine between Neptune in Pisces in the 11th house, Moon in Libra in the 7th, and Venus in Cancer in the 4th suggests that the people will get a better deal than might be expected. Neptune and Jupiter also trisect the Pluto-Sun opposition while Jupiter, sextile Neptune and Venus, turns the grand trine into a kite, further ameliorating the inevitable economic disparities.

The Sun in Cancer in the 4th house also opposes Pluto making a grand cross to Uranus and Saturn. Ethnic tensions and worries about big, bad Sudan at their doorstep will be easily exploitable by the rulers to keep power and accrue greater wealth. Of course we have that in the US, too, but this grand cross hardwires that into the nation.

Mars in Gemini in the 3rd suggests continuing struggles and arguments with neighbors, but Mars is very well aspected, trine to the Moon and Saturn, both in Libra in the 7th. Mercury in Leo in the 5th is sextile to Mars and Saturn so they should be able to build alliances with cultural exchanges and participating in regional military (“peacekeeping”) forces like the one now at their northern border. Mars in Gemini in the 3rd also suggests a rapid and successful effort to overcome a very high illiteracy rate.

A bi-wheel with Sudan’s chart puts S. Sudan’s Neptune in the 1st, Jupiter in the 4th, and Sun and Venus in the 6th. Khartoum will continue to look at the South as their own fiefdom for them to exploit. Sudan’s sun is conjunct S. Sudan’s Pluto, and Sudan’s Eris is conjunct S. Sudan’s Uranus, both highlight the continued wrangling and struggle. Sudan’s Uranus in S. Sudan’s 4th will keep the question of finalizing borders open for a long time. Sudan will feel cheated and entitled to take back at least some of what they feel deprived of.

South Sudan faces a rocky beginning to be sure, and many problems, but they do have the potential to improve their lot. Of course we can only wish them good luck!